Obama In '08? He's Thinking About It

(CBS/AP)  Sen. Barack Obama acknowledged Sunday he was considering a run for president in 2008, backing off previous statements that he would not do so.

The Illinois Democrat said he could no longer stand by the statements he made after his 2004 election and earlier this year that he would serve a full six-year term in Congress. He said he would not make a decision until after the Nov. 7 elections.

"That was how I was thinking at that time," said Obama, when asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" about his previous statements.

"Given the response I've been getting the last several months, I have thought about the possibility" although not with any seriousness or depth, he said. "My focus is on '06. ... After November 7, I'll sit down and consider it. If at some point I change my mind, I will make a public announcement, and everybody will be able to go at me."

If every presidential candidate has to have a great story to tell, Barak Obama's life certainly qualifies, reports CBS News correspondent Gloria Borger.

He was the first African-American to edit the Harvard Law Review. By 1996 he was in the state senate, then was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2004. Now, after just two years on the national stage, he's a certified political phenomenon.

Nevertheless, Obama was largely unknown outside Illinois until he burst onto the national scene with a widely acclaimed address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.

In recent weeks, his political stock has been rising as a potentially viable centrist candidate for president in 2008 after former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner announced earlier this month that he was bowing out of the race.

In a recent issue of Time magazine, Obama's face fills the cover next to the headline, "Why Barack Obama Could Be The Next President." He is currently on a tour promoting his latest book, "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream."

On Sunday, Obama dismissed notions that he might not be ready to run for president because of his limited experience in national politics. He agreed the job requires a "certain soberness and seriousness" and "can't be something you pursue on the basis of vanity and ambition."

"I'm not sure anyone is ready to be president before they're president," Obama said. "I trust the judgment of the American people.

"We have a long and vigorous process. Should I decide to run, if I ever decide to, I'll be confident that I'll be run through the paces pretty well," Obama said.

But here's something else to think about, adds Borger. He's 98th on the Senate seniority list, and without any serious national security credentials. So the question remains: Is it really time for Obama to run, or is it too far, too fast?

[janeymcgreev]

husker,

thanks for proving to me what a moron you really are.

The Civil Rights Act passed ONLY thanks to the courage of Ev Dirksen and the Republicans who supported decent Democrats like Hubert Humphrey and Scoop Jackson. It would NEVER have seen the light of day if it wasn't for Dirksen. As it was, enough Republicans went over to vote for the act despite the stupidity of Barry Goldwater, who by the way is now an icon to Liberals in some quarters.

In contrast the Southern Dems all voted against the Act, one in particular launched a 14 hour filibuster against it because not only was he against the bill - HE HATED FOLKS WHOSE LAST NAMES WERE OBAMA AND BELAFONTE! The reptile in question is the senior senile white-sheeted *** from West Virginia - the one all you Libs adore including the clueless Obama. A guy who should have been kicked out of the Senate years ago - but hey, he's a Democrat, and as long as you're a Dem you can be a traitor, a coward, a pervert, a racist, a predator, a self-loather and a bigot to your heart's desire. Just ask Byrd - or Barney Frank, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Gary Condom, Cindy McKinney, John Kerry, George Soros, not to mention a whole host of others.

[huskerarmy]

"If Obama can remain true to a party whose history, unlike Lincoln's Republicans, was racist, repressive, pro-Slavery, pro-Jim Crow, pro-"separate but equal", pro-Poll Tax, and pro-Klan, then he fits the description that Hot Air Belafonte gave Black American Republicans."

Jane,

Say it over and over and it still won't change history. Your enlightened Republicans voted against the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Blacks currently make up the most loyal voting block in the Democratic base. And the only Dems who were "pro-"separate but equal", pro-Poll Tax, and pro-Klan" by the 60's were the Dixiecrats who promptly bolted to the GOP and are responsible for giving the GOP the "solid south" and consequently the current majority. Open a history book for Pete's sake.

P.S. - Martin Luther King Jr. was a registered Democrat. I suppose he was a "lackey" too?

[janeymcgreev]

If Obama can remain true to a party whose history, unlike Lincoln's Republicans, was racist, repressive, pro-Slavery, pro-Jim Crow, pro-"separate but equal", pro-Poll Tax, and pro-Klan, then he fits the description that Hot Air Belafonte gave Black American Republicans.

Powell, Larry Elder, Lynn Swann, Mike Steele, J.C. Watts and Alan Keyes deserve the votes of All-Americans. Not a Kleagle Byrd lackey like Obama Alabama.

[janeymcgreev]

The Shah and Somoza were much better than what your hero Carter gave the people in their respective countries by his abandoning them. Are you really that dumb, Radiob, or is it a question of not getting your meds. Tell me where your closest VA hospital is, and I'll write them a note. You need help - and fast.

P.S. To show how hypocritical you and your fellow goosesteppers really are, you never did address the fact that Carter had no problems sucking up to the House of Saud, providing them weapons, but when a friend was in trouble, he and his coterie of *** - Vance, Brezinzski, Patricia Derian, Mondale - all abandoned him. Seems Carter had one set of Human Rights Agenda for one repressive country, but quite another one for those who were less repressive and by the way MORE PRO-AMERICA.

The gutless Hoody-Doody clone should be tried for treason and strung up on his *** - ditto for the Clintons, Byrd and Kerry.

[radiob-2009]

Somoza along with Tito,Saddam and the Shah were not nice people.They were brutal dictators.Much like the idiot you love Bush.

[janeymcgreev]

The Shah knew he dared not open fire on the crowds in the streets of Tehran. To do so would have meant suicide, as the blue-eyed coward and bigoted *** in the White House was already fully prepared to cut all military and economic ties to the Shah.

Remember he was already doing that to Somoza. The little peanut coward and bigot and Hamas fan - since you bring up Israel - knew how to be a hypocrite if his sweaty palms were being greased. He hated Pahlevi, but boy, did he love that House of Saud. Remember he made the deal sending the Saudis F-15s as part of a package deal sending a small amount of the same aircraft to Israel.

Love Carter? You'd better read about the little sh*t.

[janeymcgreev]

You're the idiot, b.

The government in power in Iran has been nothing more than an extension of what Carter allowed to take place in 1978 and 1979. Ahmedoodahdingdong was a Khomeini acolyte and one of the hostage takers. C'mon, I know you have a seed pearl for a brain, if that is what it is, but you know *** well that there has been no representative government or anything resembling a moderate, non-terrorist entity in Tehran since the peanut bigot pushed Pahlevi out. And did nothing when his friends chose to kidnap Americans.

If Carter had balls and wasn't such an Islamofascist fan, he would have turned Tehran into a radioactively paved parking lot after the hostages were taken - or better yet, had firmly supported the Shah so we would not have dingdong or his Ayatollah scum. Again Democratic Cowards chose the easy way out - and we may pay for it in the long run.

[radiob-2009]

Got your facts straight now Jane.

[radiob-2009]

Part three The Shah appointed a new military government in early November. But it failed to stem the rising tide of support for the Ayatollah. Earlier this month he appointed a new prime minister, Dr Shapur Bahktiar. When, on 13 January, the Ayatollah declared a revolutionary Islamic council to replace what he called the "illegal government" of Iran, Dr Bahktiar persuaded the Shah it was time to leave.

[radiob-2009]

part two The couple's three youngest children were flown to the United States yesterday.

Official reports say the Shah has left for a "vacation" and medical treatment. In fact, he was asked to leave by the man he appointed prime minister earlier this month.

Over the past few months, there have been an increasing number of violent clashes between security forces and anti-Shah demonstrators.

Opposition to the Shah has become united behind the Muslim traditionalist movement led by Iran's main spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini, from exile in France.

Celebrations

There have been calls for the Ayatollah's return - and news of the Shah's departure was greeted with mass celebrations across Iran.

British and United States' ex-patriates living in Iran - regarded as symbols of westernization - have been the frequent target of attacks. Thousands have left the country.

Martial law was declared in many cities on 8 September. But later that month, industrial action by thousands of Iranian workers culminated in a mass strike by employees in the oil industry.

The strike sparked riots and rallies across the country in support of the Ayatollah.

Western governments, like the US, UK and West Germany, have continued to express support for the Shah.